Matt Blevins opens Blevins Bicycle Company after years in the business

Matt Blevins is holding the grand opening of Blevins Bicycle Company Saturday.

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA - Matt Blevins - the guy with the big bike tattoo on his arm - finally has his own bike shop.

After working on his own and at Trailheads Bike Shop the last 10 or so years, Blevins has opened Blevins Bicycle Company at 8402 Whitesburg Drive, Suite F.

Blevins Bicycle Co. is the newest bicycle retailer in Huntsville, boasting 8,000 square feet of floor space, and will have its grand opening Saturday. Everything in the shop will be 10 percent off.

The shop will feature high-end bicycles from Giant Bicycles, Niner Bikes and Quintano Roo, as well as a full range of accessories and components. There will also be a dedicated fit studio, where Blevins will perform customized bicycle fits for all sizes and types of riders.

"It's exactly what I've been wanting to do the last 10 years," Blevins said. "When I worked at Trailheads, I built up a customer base the whole time I was there. When I lost my job, I started working in a shop in my backyard, but I got so busy that I outgrew the 700 square feet.

"From that 700-square-foot shed, to the massive 8,000-square-foot storefront in South Huntsville," his philosophy has always been based on "the fundamental belief that a working bicycle is the most important aspect of cycling," Blevins said. "Even a $10,000 bike can become a nightmare to ride if it is not tuned perfectly.

Blevins says he's has performed over 10,000 repairs, and has worked with many local cyclists and events, from professional cyclists and triathletes to local advocacy events. Bikes are so much a part of his life that he got a tattoo of a Pennysarthing Bike, the first man-powered pedal bike, on his arm.

"It went from a hobby to a full-blown obsession," Blevins said.

Blevins said the focus is not strictly on one genre of cycling. Blevins works on everything from children's bikes to the high-end race machines. And, customers can expect the good service his family has given in the Huntsville community for over 40 years.

Blevins said he will soon be offering weekly clinics on a variety of topics, including bike commuting 101, flat repair, shifting technique and basic bicycle maintenance.

"We love riding, repairing, talking about, and teaching people about bicycles," Blevins said. "Come into our shop anytime, even if it's just to hang out at the bicycle bar and have a cup of coffee. Get off the Internet and go ride your bicycle."

Store hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. You can schedule to drop off your bicycle between 7 and 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and your bike will be ready when you return from work.